Pathophysiologic abnormalities associated with ulcer disease include gastritis (particularly of the antral mucosa), excessive duodenogastric reflux, and altered motor activity of the stomach. It is not known whether these abnormalities are interrelated and whether they occur during periods of ulcer inactivity. We have tested the hypothesis that the morphological abnormalities of the gastric mucosa in inactive ulcer disease are proportional to an alteration of the gastric luminal milieu itself due to abnormal secretory and motor function. Thus, multiple endoscopic biopsies and 24-hr physiologic measurements were performed in 12 patients with well-documented ulcers in the past (seven type I gastric ulcer patients, five duodenal ulcer patients), now clinically and endoscopically in remission. Seven healthy individuals underwent similar studies and served as controls. Histologic quantification of inflammation and metaplasia (expressed as a gastritis index) was found to be significantly different among groups (P less than 0.01). Gastric ulcer patients exhibited a higher gastritis index than controls, while duodenal ulcer patients were intermediate. A significant inverse relationship was found between gastritis index and postprandial motility index (R2 = 0.59, P less than 0.01) and a nonsignificant trend between gastritis index and fasting motility index. There was no difference among groups or detectable associations between gastritis index and intragastric pH or bile acid concentration. We conclude that gastric mucosal disease, expressed as gastritis index, persists during inactive ulcer disease. There is an association with antral hypomotility, which is more strongly manifested postprandially. It is not associated with gastric pH or bile acid concentration. Gastric mucosal inflammation and antral hypomotility predispose to ulceration rather than simply accompanying it.